Technical efficiency of upland and lowland rice production

Abstract

The paper examined the efficiency of upland and lowland rice production systems in a prominent rice producing State (Niger State) in Nigeria using descriptive statistics, stochastic production frontier model as well as inefficiency model. The data used were generated from a farm survey involving 240 rice farmers' randomly selected using multistage sampling technique. Results of analysis indicate that upland rice farmers were significantly more technically efficient (81.2%) than lowland rice farmers (76.4%) at P ≤ 0.01. Also, farmers stand the chance of improving their efficiency by 18.8% and 23.6% in upland and lowland production systems respectively and the inefficiency model indicated that this can be achieved when rice farmers plant improved varieties regardless of the production systems. In addition, sex was a significant determinant of efficiency under upland production while experience plays a significant role under lowland production (P ≤ 0.05).

Keywords: Stochastic production frontier; efficiency; rice production; Nigeria

Moor Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 7 (1&2) 2006 pp.93-99